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The University of Southampton
Geography and Environmental Science

Research

Our research is helping to address some of today’s major global challenges, including climate change, social and health inequalities, sustainable development; conservation of biodiversity; poverty and recession.

As a School we have received research funding from all major research councils in the UK, the European Union, and leading national and international Charities. We were ranked third among UK geography and environmental science departments for grade point average (an overall research quality measure) in the REF2021 research assessment exercise. Our research income now (2021) approaches £5 Million per year, a volume that has doubled since 2016.

We have more than 50 active research projects in more than 40 countries across all continents, thus making us truly global.

Being a scientist

Professor Mary Edwards shares some thoughts on how she became a scientist and what it's been like to work in the Arctic throughout her career so far

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Research to influence policy

Professor Emma Tompkins describes her work with the Intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC).

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Our research groups

Student and staff research is organised into research groups:

8 February 2024

Estimated 14 per cent of world population ...

An estimated 14 per cent of people in the world were within five ki...

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19 January 2024

Professor Pete Langdon appointed President...

Professor Pete Langdon, Professor of Quaternary Science at the Scho...

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19 January 2024

Island plant life becomes more similar whe...

New research by the University of Southampton shows that human sett...

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Seminars

View our seminars

View our upcoming and past seminars

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Research rankings

Geography and Environmental Science is ranked 8th in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2021.

Geography and Environmental Science at Southampton was ranked joint third nationally in terms of grade point average (a measure of overall research quality) in the UK REF2021. 94% of our research outputs were rated world-leading or internationally excellent, whilst 75% of both our impact case studies and working environment were rated as world-leading.

For a taster of past projects our Making a Global Impact brochure showcases some of our research highlights and you can learn more about our impact here.

Our academic team

Meet our team

Find out more about our lively and diverse research-active academic team

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